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Manchester United trained at the Cliff on the morning of their defeat to Manchester City (Picture: Eamonn and James Clarke)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s decision to make his side train at the club’s former training ground on the morning of their 2-0 defeat to Manchester City left members of the Manchester United squad ‘baffled’, Metro.co.uk can reveal.

The Norwegian led a 20-man squad to the Cliff training ground on Wednesday morning for a light session ahead of their 8pm kick-off against Pep Guardiola’s side at Old Trafford.

United trained at the Cliff during the early trophy-laden years of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign and Solskjaer felt it would help inspire his side ahead of their clash against neighbours City.

The squad usually reside at the Lowry Hotel on the eve of matches but United stayed at Hilton Deansgate on Tuesday night and trained at the Cliff at around 10am.

United still own the Cliff but haven’t used it for first team operations since 2000 (Copyright: Eamonn and James Clarke)

Solskjaer said after the 4-0 defeat to Everton on Sunday that certain members of his squad needed a ‘reality check’ and he hoped the less glamorous surroundings of the Cliff would help restore some humility within the players.

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However, sources have told Metro.co.uk that members of the squad were ‘baffled’ by the decision and it’s relevance was lost on the majority of the players.

Solskjaer recounted his own stories of training at the Cliff (Picture: Eamonn and James Clarke)

Solskjaer explained the move to his squad at the team hotel and recounted ‘old stories’ about his days at the training ground between 1996 and 2000.

Ferguson opted to move from the iconic training ground to United’s current Carrington complex because he felt the club had outgrown the site and it was too open to the public.

United’s starting XI against City was leaked almost three hours before kick-off and Solskjaer admitted training at the Cliff may have given away any selection surprises.

‘It is not a big surprise. We were training at The Cliff, it is quite open there and the neighbours can see,’ said Solskjaer.

Solskjaer’s team was leaked three hours before kick-off (Picture: AFP)

The Cliff is mainly used by United’s youth sides, though Casey Stoney recently revealed she hopes to move her Women’s team there for the start of next season.

Solskjaer’s attempt to inspire his side failed as goals from Bernardo Silva and Leroy Sane in the second half at Old Trafford wrapped up a comfortable win for City.